Wind-motor.



L. ZEMAN.

WIND MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1912 Patented Feb. 24, 191$ 2 SHEETS-SHEET.1.

mmssszs: L nvvsnron & M Q Y\ L. ZEMAN.

' WIND MOTOR.

Patented Feb. 24, 19M

2 SHEETfi-BHEET 2.

I O 9 IN WITNESSES;

INVENTOR Ls "Z( m cm ATTORNEY LOUIS ZEMAN, or ToBiAs, NEBRASKA.

WIND-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914..

Application filed December 12, 1912. i Serial No. 736,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS ZEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residinat Tobias, in the county of Saline and State of Nebraska, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Wind-Motors; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wind motors, and

it more particularly relates towind motor governors or controllers.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved windoperated controller.

Another object is to provide a controller of this character which may beactuated by the wind or by a person, for throwing the motor blade out ofoperative position.

Another object is to provide, in a controller of this character, apaddle or sail which is thrown into horizontal position by the action ofthe wind when a certain predetermined velocity of the wind is exceeded.

Another object of the invention is to provide manually operable meansfor throwing the paddle into horizontal position and simultaneouslyturning the motor blades parallel with the direction of the wind.

Another object of the invention is to provide wind operated means, onthe windward side of the motor wheel, for controlling the blades of thelatter before the current of wind which operates the controller strikesthe wheel.

Another object is to provide, in a controller of this character, acombined brake and wheel-blade shifters Another object is to provide,withal, a wind motor which is simple, compact, economical ofconstruction'and maintenance, and thoroughly efficient.

Other objects and advantages may be recited hereinafter and in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which supplement this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wind motor. Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail perspective view of the paddle-supporting arm. Fig. 3 isan enlarged detail perspective view of the paddle or sail, viewed fromthe rear. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional View on thehorizontal plane of the axis of the motor wheel. Fig. 5 is an enlargedfragmental view partly in section and partly in slde elevation,illustrating the connection of the sail and its support. Fig. 6 is anenlarged vertical sectional view through the main supporting beam andthe axle journaled thereon, illustrating the connection of thepaddle-supporting arm. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of thefrustoconical brake ring, and, Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form ofbrake element to be used in connection with the brake ring in lieu ofthe form of annular brake element illustrated in Fig. 4:.

Referring to these drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate the sameparts, throughout the several figures; the main frameof the wind motor consists of the supporting beam 10, rigidly secured toor formed with the block or head 11, which may be preferably mounted, inany usual or proper way, on the tower head 12.

The beam 10 is provided with journal bearings 13 and 14 in which ismounted a shaft 15, which carries the wind wheel. This wind wheelconsists of hub members 16 and 17 to which are secured thewheelspokes18. The spokes 18 are preferably formed of fiat bars of metal, each barbeing bent at its middle portion, so as to form two similar sidesections, the outer ends of which are parallel to each other, and theinner ends diverging toward their points of attachment to the axle orshaft 15, and connecting with the hub members 16 and 17. Between theside sections of the spokes 18 are secured the outer wheel-rim 19 andinner wheel-rim 20, and to these wheel-rims are pivoted the wheel blades21, of which only one is indicated in Fig. 4. 1

Upon each blade 21 is secured an arm 22, and all of the arms 22 arepivotally connected to a controller ring 28, said ring 23 beingsupported by pivots 2 1 of the arms 22. Secured on the ring 28 is aseries of supporting arms 25, having one end secured to the ring 23 andhaving their other end secured to a hollow drum or brake-housing 26.Within this housing is seated the annular brake member 27 secured to thehousing 26 by any proper means. One end'of the member 27 is providedwith a frusto-conical recess, the wallof which constitutes a brakesurface on which is seated the frusto-conical brake ring 28, illustratedin Fig. 7. Secured to the inner surface of the brake ring 28 is endbearing against the pin 38, so that the a pair of draw-bars 29, restingupon the top surface of the beam 10 and provided with apertures 30 intheir free ends.

A pair of standards 31 are secured on the base or beam 10, and areprovided with apertures in their upper ends through which extends a boltor pivot 32. This bolt 32 supports the paddle-supportingarm 33, to whichis secured a pair of levers 34, provided with apertures through whichthe bolt 32extends, and provided with other apertures which registerwith the apertures of-the draw-bars 29, so as to connect therewith bymeans of rivets or pivots The upper portion of each arm 34 extends intocontact with the member 33 and is secured to said member, so as to braceit and retain it in substantially vertical position.

The upper end of the member 33 is bifurcated, and the fureations areprovided with a lateral extension or stop-lug 36. The furcations 36 arealso apertured for the. reception of a bolt or pivot 37 and an adjustingor tensioning rod or pin 38. Upon the bolt 37 is pivotally mounted thepaddle or sail 39, which constitutes a wind-engaging element, preferablyof sheet metal, slightly concaved on the windward side, and havingflanges 40 formed on opposite edges. A connecting element of the paddleand its support 33 consists of a spider 41, preferably formed from sheetmetal, though it may be cast or forged, This spider is formed with apair of securing arms 42 by whiehit is secured to the plate or paddle39, and it has arms 43 and apertured lugs 44 standing at right angles tothe arms 42. A bolt or rivet 45 connects the free ends of the arms 43,while between the apertured lugs 44 is seated the bifurcated end of thesupport 33, while the pivot 37 extends through the apertures of theselugs and secures the spider on the support 33 (see Fi 5).

eated between the furcations of the member 33, and coiled around thepivot 37, is a spring 46 having its upper end bearing against the spider41, and having its lower paddle 39 is thereby held normally in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which position, while on anapproximately vertical plane, is slightly inclined downwardly in thedirection of the wheel, so that when the velocity of the wind is loworslight, the wind which strikes the paddle 39 is deflectedtherefromagainst the wheel paddles, so as to aid in turning the wheel. llowever,when the velocity of the wind increases, the paddle and its support areswung forward in the direction of the wheel, so that the paddle firstassumes a vertical position, and passes beyond this vertical positioninto an oppositely inclined position, wherein. the wind will bedeflected away from the wheel.

The supporting lugs 44 are located approximately in the center of thepaddle 39, so that when said paddle assumes a horizontal. position, ashereinafter described, it will be practically balanced upon the pivot37, but, for the purpose of providing the portion above the pivot 37with a greater amount of wind'contacting surface than the portion belowsaid pivot, I cut out a portion of the lower edge of the paddle, asindicated at 47; and therefore, when the velocity of the wind becomesexcessive, the top of the paddle is thereby forced forward, so that thepaddle assumes a horizontal position or an inclination betweenhorizontal and vertical, thereby decreasing the force of the wind on thepaddle for preventing injury thereto. However, before the velocity andforce of the wind become suflicient to move the paddle with relation tothe support 33, the latter is swung forward on its pivotal support 32,thereby coacting with the levers 34 for drawing the draw-bars 29 and thebrake ring 28 rearward, so as to bring said brake ring more tightlyagainst the friction surface of the member 27 and at the same time tomove the member 27, the drum 26, the arms 25 and the ring 23 rearward;thereby coacting with the arms 22 for causing the blades 21 to swingfrom operative to inoperative position; that is, from an inclinedposition into a position parallel with the direction of the wind. Theaction of the brake within the drum 2G retards the drum, and the ring23, and this retardation assists in swinging the arms 22 and blades 21into the inoperative position, in an obvious manner. hen the force ofthe wind relaxes,'the drum and its adjuncts are returned to their normalpositions by means of springs 48 and rods 49, said rods having one endloosely connected to the hub members 16 and having their other endsextended through apertured lugs on the members 25. The end of each bolt49 is screwthreaded for the reception of a nut 50 which constitutes a.spring seat and the adjusting member for tensioning the spring 48. Bymeans of these tensioning members 48, 4.9 and 50, the motor may beregulated for being thrown out of gear by greater or less wind currents,as desired. The apertures through which he bolts 49 extend areconsiderably larger than the bolts, so that the latter have free playtherein and may be freely swung laterally during the partial relativerotation of the wheel and the drum. 1 In order to prevent torque of thering 28 and slide bars 29, a clip or keeper 51 is secured on the beam 10and extends from one of the bars 29 to prevent it from being lifted fromthe beam 10.

In'order that a person may throw the paddle 39 out of wind engagingposition, and at the same time throw the wheel blades out of operativeposition, I provide a flexible element 52, which may consist of wire,cable, chain, or a combination of these elements. The upper end of themember 52 is secured to the member 5, and the lower end thereof mayextend into reach of a person on the ground. This flexible member isadapted to travel around pulleys 53 and 54, pivotally supported onbrackets 55 and 56, respectively, the former being secured to the beam10, and the latter being secured on the head 11.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and 5, in connection with the foregoingdescription, it will be seen that when the operator pulls down on themember 52, the arms as will be drawn down, so as to bring the paddle 39into horizontal position, and by continuing to pull on the member 52,the support 33 will be inclined in the direction of the wheel, so as tothrow the wheel blades out of operative position, as described. When themember is released, the support 33 and paddle 39 will be caused toresume their normal positions, by means of springs 46 and 4:8.

in lieu of the brake member 27, which may be of wood or other suitablematerial, I may employ the metal brake member 57 shown in Fig. 8, saidmember being formed from sheet metal and being provided with a lining 58of leather or other suitable friction material. This member is offrustoconical shape and is provided with apertured cars 59, by which itmay be secured within the drum 26.

it will be seen that I have provided a device of this character which isfully capable of attaining the foregoing objects, and in a thoroughlypractical and eiiicient manner.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, as herewith illustrated anddescribed, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonableinterpretation of the claims.

I clain l. A wind -1notor providing movable es, a brake, meansconnecting said brake blades for moving the latter into inope positionwhen said brake is set, a supporting arm pivoted windwardly of saidblades, means connecting said arm and brake for operating the latterwhen said arm is swung on its pivot, a pivot pin in the upper end ofsaid arm, a sail pivoted midway of its length on said pin, a spring onsaid pin and bearing at one end on said blade for normally holding thesame in an upright position, said sail adapted at a predetermined windvelocity to operate said supporting arm and to overcome the tension ofsaid spring to assume an inclined position, and means for varying thetension of said spring.

2. A wind-motor providing movable blades, a brake, means connecting saidbrake and blades for moving the latter into inoperative position whensaid brake is set, a supporting arm pivoted windwardly of said blades,means connecting said arm and brake for operating the latter when saidarm is swung on its pivot, a pivot pin in the upper end of said arm, asail pivoted midway of its length on said pin, a spring on said pin andbearing at one end on said blade for normally holding the same in anupright position, said sail adapted at a predetermined wind velocity tooperate said supporting arm and to overcome the tension of said springto assume an inclined position, and means for varying the tension ofsaid spring, said means comprising a pin adjustable in a plurality ofopenings in the upper end of said arm, the opposite end of said springadapted to rest against said pin.

3. A wind motor providing a supporting beam, an axle journaled thereon,a hub on said axle, spokes secured to said hub, rings supported betweenthe sides of said spokes, blades pivoted to said rings and supported bythe same, arms secured to said blades and extending beyond the same, aring to which said arms are pivoted, a brake housing movable axially ofsaid axle, supporting arms secured at one end to last said ring and atthe other end to said housing, means for shifting said housing wherebylast said ring is moved away from the first said rings, rods connectedto said hub and slidably supported by said supporting arms, said rodsextending beyond said arms, and springs interposed on said rods betweenthe outer ends thereof and said arms for normally holding last said ringtoward the first said rings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS ZEMAN.

Witnesses J. A. ZEMAN, J OE ANKNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentl. Washington, D. G.

